Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal has praised AS Roma ahead of their Champions League meeting, describing the Italian side as having one of the strongest squads in the club’s history.
Fenerbahce will host Roma on Thursday in their opening Champions League league-phase fixture. The Turkish club are returning to the competition proper for the first time since the 2008/09 season after overcoming Lyon in the play-offs.
Kartal acknowledged the quality of Roma’s squad and the challenge his players face against an experienced European opponent. Reports from the pre-match press conference quoted him as saying that Roma have the strongest squad in their history.
Despite the warning, Kartal is expected to approach the game with confidence. Fenerbahce have assembled an experienced squad that includes former Champions League winner N'Golo Kanté and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, who joined the club during the summer.
The match represents an important moment for Fenerbahce, who are eager to make an impression after ending an 18-year wait to return to the Champions League league phase. Their best previous European Cup run came in 2007/08, when they reached the quarter-finals.
Kartal is also beginning his fourth spell as Fenerbahce head coach. The former club player returned to the position in June 2026 and will now oversee the team's campaign against some of Europe's leading clubs.
With Roma providing a difficult opening test, Fenerbahce will need to combine their attacking quality with defensive discipline if they are to begin their Champions League campaign with a positive result.
The encounter in Istanbul is therefore expected to attract significant attention as Fenerbahce attempt to make their long-awaited return to Europe's top club competition on a strong note.